Operating-table.



No. 679,802. Patented Aug. 6, 90!: T. M. VAUGHAN. OFERATINGTABLE." (Application filed Nov. 17, 19,00.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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1n: NORRIS FEVERS 6o, Fhm'oq. "4a,. wAsHm Patenfed Aug."6, I90I.

I. m. VAUGHAN. OPERATING TABLE. A lication filed Nov. 17, 1900.

4 Sheets-She9t 2.

(No Model.)

Parks co.. Puznoumou wAsmNGTcn No. 679,802. I Patented Aug. 6, I90l. T. M.'VAUGHAN. OPERATING TABLE.

I (Application filed Nov. 11,1800.) qllolodel.) 1

4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

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No. 679,802. Patented Aug. 6, l90l.

T. M. VAUGHAN.

OPERATING TABLE.

. (Application filed Nov. 17,1900. {N0 h) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

THE uonms PETERS- co. PHOTO-LUNG" msmnamu. n. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. VAUGHAN, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

OPERATING-TABLE.

fEPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,802, dated August 6, 1901.

Application filed November 17, 1900. Serial No. 36,813. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS M. VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattoon, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating-Tables, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to surgeons operating-tables; and it has for its primary object to provide an improved form of table of this character which shall be capable of assuming the maximum number of useful positions,

be simple and strong of construction, and

compact, light, and handy when not in use.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved operating-table, showing the rests for the feet, legs, back, and head thrown up into position and the tablebody inclined rearwardly. Fig.1 is a perspective View of the upper end of one of the auxiliary braces for the foot-rests. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front end of the table, certain parts illustrated in Fig. 1 being mitted and others put in place, as hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a similar View, the stirrups illustrated in Fig. 2 being omitted and the leg-rests in place. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the superstructure of the table, showing the table-body tilted forwardly in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly broken away, the table-top being omitted. Fig. .6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in section, of one of the bracerods for holding the lower ends of the tablelegs. Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 8 8,Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View of one of the stirrups and its supporting-rod. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of the lifting-screw for tilting the table-body sidewise. Fig. 11 is a detail side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the longitudinal beam upon which the tablebody is supported. Fig. 12 is a transverse section thereof, taken on the line 12 12, Fig. 11. Fig. 13 isa detail perspective view of the inner end ofone of the bracket-armsforsupporting the stirrups, &c., hereinafter described. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective View of the socket for supporting said bracket-arm. Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism for tilting the table endwise. Fig. 16 is a rear elevation of the head-rest in its lowered position, showing also its connection with the hinged back piece of the table-top. Fig. 17 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 17 17, Fig. 16. Fig.

18a similarsection taken in a plane at right angles to the section presented in Fig. 17. Fig. 19' is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view of a locking dog or catch hereinafter described for holding the foot-rest in position, and Fig. 20 is a similar view of a similar lock for holding the foot-rests.

The legs and other parts of the substructure of my table are composed of a folding framework of such construction and character that while the parts may be light and composed of pieces which are individually frail they may nevertheless be folded together in a compact form when not in use or stood up as a rigid structure when it is desired to support the table-body. The legs 1 2, which are four in number and arranged one at each corner of the table, are pivoted at their upper ends to longitudinal bars 3, arranged one on each side of the table and rigidly held together and braced by cross-bars 4. The ends of the longitudinal bars 3, where pivoted to the legs 1 2, are bent downwardly, as shown at 5 6, and the bend 5 at one end of each of the bars 3 is shorter than the bend 6 at the opposite end of the same bar, so that the legs 1 may be folded upwardly parallel or substantially parallel with the bars 3, while the legs 2 may be folded upwardly against the under side of and parallel or substantially parallel with the legs 1. The ends of the down-bends 5 6 are connected together by transverse rods 7 8, respectively, and to the upper ends of the legs, near each end of each of these rods, is secured the upper branch of one of four braces 9 10 11 12, while the lower branches of such braces are secured, respectively, to the lower ends of the usual manner.

the legs may be effected by staples 13 or other suitable devices and between the legs and the lower branches also by staples 14 or other suitable devices. These braces are each V- shaped, with theirapexes projected toward each other and connected together in pairs by clips 15 16, respectively, which are d e-- tachable therefrom, so that when it is desired to fold the substructure up the clips may be removed and .the two braces-at-each end of the table folded over one against the other and against the inner sides ofthe legs, after which the legs are folded up lengthwise of'thelongitudinal bars 3 in the manner al-' ready; described. Each pair of legs 1 2.is provided with a cross-bar 17, rigidly secured thereto and servingto hold the legs of'each' pairat-the proper distance apart, while the two pairs ot-legs are held asunder and the entire structure strengthened by two longitudinal braces, each consisting of axially-arranged rods 18 19, having their outer ends removably inserted in suitable socketsin the lower' ends of the legs, asclearly shown in Fig. 7, while their inneror contiguous ends are coupled together-by a turnbuckle 20, into one end of each of which one of the rods'19 is screw-threaded, as shown at 21, while in the other end of each one of the rods 18 is loosely inserted, as shown at 22. Each of the rods- 19 may also be provided with a milled or-knurled portion or grip 23 for facilitating the tighteningof-the braces by turning the rods 19 with reference to the turnbuck-les 20, or vice versa, thus forcing the brace members-18 19 apart and'pulling the braces 9 1O 11 12 taut and rendering the'entire structure rigid. the legs Ihave shown each pair provided with cross-braces 24, bolted thereto.

Extending between and secured to the crossbars-4is a longitudinal rod 25, extending lon-: gitudinally along which is a beam 26, which, as better-shown :inv Figs: 11 and 12, is-sad dled on the rod 25 by having its-lower side grooved longitudinally, asshown at 27, and fitted over the rod 25,-thebeam26 beingheld By this from displacement by straps 28.- meansthe beam 26 is pivoted on the rod 25 and is capable of tipping from side to side, and

secured to and extending transversely ofthe beam 26 is a cross-beam 29, which issecured directly to the rigid portion 30 of the table'- top, and to one end of the cross-beam 29 is swiveled the upper end of a lifting-screw 31. This-swivel connection may be effected by means of an angle-bracket 32, having one of itsarms pivoted at 33 to the side of the beam- 29 by bolt 34 and its other arm suitably swiveled to the upper end of the screw'in'thea The screw 31 passes through a nut-35, which is swiveled on pivots 36, supported in brackets 37, projecting from the'in her side of one of the longitudinal barsl3;

The lower end of the screw 31 is provided As a meansof further strengthening with a turning-crank 38. Bythe. means described it will be seen that when th'e screw 31 is turned up or down the table-top will be tilted from side to side, to the right or to the left, according to the direction in which the screw is operated.

' One'end of the beam 26 is provided with means whereby the entire table-body may be tilted from end to end with reference to such beam. As a means of accomplishing this I have shown one end of the beam provided withapair of arms 39, in which is swiveled a nut 40 by means of pivots 41, extending transversely of the table-top, and passing through this nut is a screw 42, (see Fig. 15,) whose upper end is provided with a beveled gear 43, engaging a beveled gear 44 on a transverse shaft 45, which is journaled' at one end in a bracket 46, secured to the end member 47 of the table-body, and at the other end is jou'rnaled in the side or longitudinal member 48 of the table-body and preferably projects through the member 48, where it is provided with a turning-crank 49. The extreme upperend ofthe screw 42 passesthrougha bifurcated bracket 50, which is secured to the end member 47 of the table-body, the end of the screw having a head 51 to prevent it from pulling out of the bracket 50. By the means described it will be seen that when the crank 49 is turned the screw 42 will be rotated, and consequently raised or lowered'with reference to itsnut 41, which, being held'stationary' by the beam 26, will cause the tablebody to tilt' from end to end upwardly or downwardly, according to the direction of retation of the crank 49, it being understood that the connection between the rigid part 30 'ofthe table-top and the cross-beam 29 is effected by means of hinges 52 or othersuitable con nections.

One end of the table-top is provided witlr able-way, and thisi member' 53 is capable of beingheld at various angles of inclination by'means' of props 55, hinged at 56 to the under-side of the member 53 and adapted to engage with teeth or notches 57, formed in the :upper edgeof'the side -mem-ber 48 and the oppositeside member 48*. The upper end of the hinged. member mayalso be :provided'with a hin'gedhead-rest 58, adj u'st- =ablysecured to the member'53 in any suit- :able'way. I have shown the head-'restproivided'with arms 59, u'pon'each of which is aformedrone member 60of a clutch whose other'member, 61, is secured by arms 62 to the hinged table-top member 53, and passing through both clutch members is a-rod 63, upon one end of which is threaded a nut 64 for the purpose of drawing'the clutch members firmly into engagement and locking the head-rest at the desired inclination. Sleeved ion the rod-'63 is a tube 65, which servesto 'prevent the innerclutch members from being'drawn' together by thepressure' thereagainst'of the outer'clutch members. The inner faces of the clutch members are provided, respectively, with annular V-shaped grooves and ribs 66, which afford the requisite friction.

The front end of the table-bod y is provided with a pair of loops 67, which are for the purpose of supporting two independent footrests 68 69, respectively, each of which is provided at its upper end with a hook 70, engaging over one of the loops 67 in such a manner that the foot-rest is afiorded a hinge support and capable of being thrown out at various angles, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4C. The under side of each of these foot-rests 68 69 is provided with a loop 71 and passing through each of these loops isahinged brace 72, whose upper end is pivoted to a bracket 73, secured to the end of the table, while its other end is provided with a notch or hook 7 4, adapted to engage with the loop 71, as clearly shown in Fig. 19, and thus hold the foot-rests in the position shown in Fig. 1, the notch or hook 74: being held in engagement by a spring 75. The number of positions or different angles at which the foot-rests 68 69 may be thus held by the braces 72 will of course be dependent upon the number of hooks or notches 74 formed in each brace. In order that the footrests 68 69 may be held firmly when allowed to descend to a position perpendicular to the plane of the table-top, I provide auxiliary braces 76, one for each of the foot-rests. The upper end of each of these braces has ahook 77, which engages over a loop 78, a pair of the latter being arranged between the loops 67, while the lower end of each of these braces 76 is bifurcated, and each branch of the bifurcation is bent outwardly and carries a lug 79, adapted to rest under the lower ends of the foot-rests when the latter swing downwardly to a vertical position.

Each of the foot-rests 68 69 is provided with a supplemental foot-support 80, hinged thereto and provided on its under side with an arm 81, which is pivoted at its inner end to the lower end of a brace-rod 82, whose upper end passes through a loop 83, similar to the loop 71 before described, and has a hook 84:, which engages therewith when the rod 82 is drawn downwardly a certain distance for holding the supplemental foot-supports at right angles or substantially at right angles to the main portions 68 69 of the foot-rests.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the foot-rests and their braces are omitted and the end of the table provided with a pair of stirrups 85 and supporting-brackets 86. Each of these brackets 86 is provided with a pin 87, adapted to enter a socket 88, secured to each side of the table-body and having a number of notches 89, (see Fig. 14,) whereby the brackets 86 may be rigidly held at various angles with reference to the sides of the table. Each of the stirrups 85 is provided with an arm 90, having an aperture substantially the same in size as the cross-section of the brackets 86 and inserted thereover in such a manner that the stirrups may be pushed inwardly; but the pressure of the foot thereagainst will cause the arms 90 to bind on the brackets 86, and thus prevent the pressure of the foot from pushing the stirrups outwardly.

When it is desired to support the feet at a higher elevation than may be done with the stirrups 85, the latter may be slipped off their supporting-brackets 86,and in their stead may be inserted the leg-supports shown in Fig. 3. These consist of vertical arms or standards 94, secured by set-screws in clips 96, which are mounted on the rods or brackets 86 and are also held in place by means of the setscrews 95, thus providing for both the longitudinal and vertical adjustment of the standards 94:. The upper end of each standard is bifurcated, as shown at 97, and in each of these bifurcations is located a semicylindrical' rest 98, each having longitudinal slots 99 in opposite sides, through which pass pivot-pins 100, secured in the bifurcations 97, whereby the rests 98 may teeter and also slip back and forth, as the position of the patient may re quire.

91 is a hinged shelf, secured to the end of the table by hinges 92 and having a handle 93,wherebyit maybe folded upwardly against the end of the table in the manner shown in Fig. 1 when the footrests 68 69 are to be used. This shelf 91 will be useful in holding instruments or medicines.

101 is a shelf pivotally supported by brackets 102 on the side of the table, and which shelf may also serve as an arm-rest or support for any other object at or near the opposite end of the table, a supporting-bracket 103 at such end being provided for the shelf 101.

The side and end members of the table-body are of considerable depth, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and substantially inclose the internal mechanism and the table-frame, comprising the bars 3 4, and when the legs are folded up, together with the braces 9 10 11 12, in the manner before described they also are substantially incased or inclosed by these side members, and when so folded up and thus incased the entire table may be conveniently carried from place to place by means of a handle 104, the exterior attachments being of course previously removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A substructure for tables comprising corner-legs, side bars, each having a long bend at one end and a short bend at the other end, to which the corner-legs are pivoted, crossbars whereby the side bars are braced, means for restraining said legs from separating, and spreading-braces arranged between said legs for forcing them apart and each comprising two sections abutting against opposite legs and a turnbuckle connecting said sections tocorner-legs, side bars, each having a long bend atone end and a short bend at the other end,

to which the corner-legs are pivoted, crossbars whereby the side barsare braced, means for restraining said legs from separating, and

spreading-braces for forcing-said legs apartat' their lower ends each comprising two rods removably socketedin oppositelegs, and a turnbuckle inwhich one of said rods is loosely journaled and in which the otheris screw threaded, substantially asset forth.

3; In ait-able for the purpose described the combination of twopairs of legs on'e'pair of whichis-longer. than the other, the longitudinal side bars 3 having the portions 5 6 ex-i tendingtdownwardly different distances and to the lower ends of which portions said legsand adapted to fold against the inner sides of I said legs, means for detachably connecting opposite braces together, and means for forcing the lower ends of said. legs apart, substantially as set forth.

4. In a tablenfor the purpose'described the combination of: the longitudinal side bars 3,

thercross-bars'li connecting said side bars to gether, a rigid rod connecting said cross-bars together, the longitudinal beam 26 having a' longitudinal groove on itslower sideand saddled on said rod so asto rock loosely thereon, straps for holding the beam-fromdisplacement, atable-body having support'on said longitudinalbeamand means for tippiug'said longitudinal beam on its longitudinalaxis,

substantially asset forth.

5. In a table for thepurpose described the combination of a table-body, a frame onwhich said body is pivoted on a longitudinal axis, a:

Witnesses:

-' W; O. LUMP-KIN, LUTIE HART:

nutswiveled to said frame, and a'screw pass ing through said nut and having swivel connection with: said table-body for tipping the axis; the cross-beam 29 secured to said beam 26, a table-body hinged to said beam 29 on its transverse axis, the bracket 32 pivoted to the end of beam 29, the nut 35 havinga swivel support on said-frame, a screwpassin g through said nut and operativelyconnected with said bracket, and 'meanssu'pported on the end' of said longitudinal beam for raising theend ofsaid body, substantiallyrasset forth.

8; In a'table for the purpose described the combination of a frame, the longitudinal beam 26 pivoted to said frame on itslongitu- 'din al axis; the cross-beam supported on beam 26 ,a table-body hinged to said cross-beam, a nut having pivotal connection with 'and supported on said beam 26,- ascrew passing through 'said nut and having swivelconnection with said body, an operating-shaft jour- 'naled in said bodyportion and gearsconnect- 'ing 'said'shaftwith said screw,- substantially as set-forth.

9. In a table for-thepurpose described the combination of a-standard having bifurcations-97, semicylindricalleg-rests 98 having longitudinal slots 99' and pivots 100 secured in said bifurcations and passing through said slots, substantially as set forth.

THOMA'SM. VAUGHAN. 

